Lib Dems gear up for election with new communications chief

Wednesday, 5 January 2005 12:00 AM

The Liberal Democrats have appointed Sandy Walkington, currently director of public affairs at BT, as their new director of general election communications.

Described as a life-long Liberal supporter, Mr Walkington will take up his role at the beginning of February.

He is expected to work closely with Charles Kennedy's director of communications Jackie Rowley and the parliamentary party chairman Matthew Taylor on the final stages of the Lib Dems' general election manifesto.

Welcoming the appointment, Liberal Democrat chief executive Lord Rennard - who has previously done the majority of the party's communications work - said: "This is another significant strengthening of the Liberal Democrat team as we approach the general election."

Explaining his new role, Mr Walkington, said: "My role will be to ensure this new public profile is effectively communicated at all levels. I also know the party will be put under scrutiny in the media and from the other parties as never before - and we will need to show ourselves ready and prepared to counter the mischief and misrepresentation that all too often comes from the party's opponents."

He added: "The trajectory is clearly upwards, with the very real possibility of historic change in the shape of UK politics following the general election."

Mr Walkington has a long history of involvement with the party, having been a member of the then Liberal Party since his days at Cambridge. He has been both a councillor and parliamentary candidate for the party and was head of research for the Parliamentary Liberal Party in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

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